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Aptos
October 30, 2025

The value of sitting down with a mortgage professional

Income planning. Qualifying on a home loan is a little trickier than you might think. Let me "esplain" (I grew up watching "I Love Lucy"). Let’s say you’ve been at your job for 20 years and you’re still renting your co-worker's garage. Let’s further say that your company has been asking you to work overtime and double time and you have politely declined the offer over the past few years, hey! Not having to work so much is the benefit of living in a garage. But then the unthinkable happens. You get a serious girlfriend who refuses to be sweet on you inside of a garage. You start working all the overtime and double time and even triple time (this could be a local policeman) that you can get your hands on. This is where the sins of the past come to haunt you. The bank will only count overtime if you worked it for two years continually, it doesn’t matter that it's always been there for you. Thinking you can afford more in the moment is an easy pitfall to fall into, I can help you avoid such an embarrassment by letting you know what you actually qualify for and not what you figured you did.

County surpasses $20 million in road repairs

With March 16 marking the one-year anniversary of a federal disaster declaration for January 2017 storms, the County of Santa Cruz announced the completion of more than $20 million in debris removal and road repairs, including several priority projects.

Painting class at La Selva Beach.

Watsonville artist Bonni Carver heads up a painting class recently on the cliffs above the sea at La Selva Beach. Photo by Tarmo Hannula

Stronger together

SOQUEL — A little more than six years ago, triplets Kevin, David and Jason Gonzalez and their brother Flavio walked into Sanford’s Martial Arts in Soquel for the first time, tied the white belt of a novice around their waist and began a journey that has required years of work, focus and dedication. Through the years, the Watsonville residents learned the series of moves and techniques that allowed them to move up through the ranks, respectively earning their yellow, orange, blue, green, purple and brown belts.

Girls Basketball: Hocom named Academic All-American by NHSCA

Add another pair of accomplishments to Hannah Hocom’s impressive 2017-18 season. The Aptos High star junior basketball player was named an Academic All-American by the National High School Coaches Association late last month, and also earned a spot on Cal-Hi Sports’ All-State Underclassmen Third Team. A starting guard for the Mariners each of the last three seasons, Hocom was named the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League’s Most Valuable Player after leading Aptos to its first league title since the 2000-01 season. This newspaper also selected the 5-foot-9 sharpshooter as our Girls Basketball Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.

Aptos Village Project moves forward

Santa Cruz County Historic Resources Commission unanimously approved restoration plans for the exterior of the historic Hihn Apple Barn on May 12. 

Rancho Del Mar project approved

The company will perform series of façade renovations at the center at State Park and Soquel drive

Junior Lifeguards hit the beach

The Capitola Junior Lifeguards program got underway June 18. The annual program, geared for youths ages 6 to 17, is an active, physically challenging, competitive program, which provides instruction in the basic fundamentals of ocean water safety, first aid, lifesaving, fitness and good sportsmanship.

True Leaf named Second Harvest’s top donor

In a roomful of elected officials and non-profit agencies from all corners of Santa Cruz County, Second Harvest Food Bank revealed San Juan Bautista-based True Leaf Farms as its choice for 2019 Food Industry Donor of the Year. The ceremony served as the lunch event...

Roasting racks up $50K for inclusive park

The dinner, held at Seascape Golf Club, was a benefit for LEO’s Haven, the first all-inclusive playground being built in Chanticleer Park by the Santa Cruz Playground Project.